Storage system



May 26, 1931. I v 1, G, sKAR ET AL 1,807,075

l STORAGE sYsTEM Filed March 12. 1929 2 sheets-sheer 1 A 7 fafm/ggs May 26, 1931' J. G. L.. sKAR v|:1' AL S 1,807,075

STORAGE SYSTEM A Filed March 12, 929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 26,1931

JOHNl s. L. siAR, or Jniuiisrowiv, Aim HAROLD a. svn-niv, or vRUrriiiio, NEW Yon-ii, AssiGNoRs To ART Marsi. ooivsrnncrioii coiarnnv; or Jiii-.rnsfrowirivnw YORK stron/.isn srsrnii Application filed March 12, 1929. Serial No. 346,846.'

Y This invention relates to systems for storing various articles such as booksor the like,

,Y and has for an object to provide an improved construction by which the articles may be 5 stored in a compact manner, With each stored article easily and quickly accessible.

A further object is to provide an improved system, of the type in Which the articlesV are stored in separate frames that may be ar- 10 ranged closely side by side in a row, and each 2.3 notinterfere materially with the capacity of the support g and with VWhich there Will be no material obstructions `over Whichy one may stumble when moving around the supports A further object of the invention is to pro# 'vide an improved means for supporting and guiding a frame in a'prescribed path across the floor of a room; Which vvill not project materiallyT above the floor of the room; and

l with which collection of dirt lor similar for- -.0 eign matter on the iloor Will not'materially interfere with the operation of the frame.. y

A further object of the invention is to proideali improved 'rail and roller for supportingenti guiding an vobject across the floor of a room; with which the rail maybe substantially flush with theupper face of the floor; with which the collection of dirt'upon the will not materially block the operation of said roller therealong; with Whichdirt collecting upon the rail/Will be removed by the passage of the roller tliereover; and which will not materially interfere With the regular sweeping or cleaning of the floor.-

' A further' object of the invention is to provide an improved. rolling support for objects, which may be formed of structural steel, and which Will be relatively simple,

convenient and inexpensive. y

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, and the novel features Will Vbe particularly-pointed out hereinafter in connection -With the appended claims.

In kthe accompanying drawings vF ig. l is a sectional elevation through a portion of a room, illustrating the mountingv of rolling book stacks in accordance With this invention;

l Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through the room, approximately crossvvise of the parts shown in Fig. l, the 'section being talienv approximatelyalong the line 2 2 of Fig.' l;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the rail guides for the lower part of each frame,VV on a some- What largerscale than shown in F ig.1;

Fig. t is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating the means forgniding the upper portion of a frame;

Fig. 5 is-Y a sectional elevation of part of a Aframe ori-carriage and its support, the section being t'akenapproximately along the line l5 5 of Fig. l;

i* 1g. 6 is a sectional Yelevation of the means for supporting the 'upperend of a frame kor carriage, the section being taken approximately along .thelline 6-46 of F ig. l; and

Fig. 7- is'a sectional plan through the lovv'er part of a ,carriagev or support to illustrate the mountingof va roller, they section being taken approximately along. the'. line 7-7 of ig. o. y Y In the illustrated embodiment of the invenf tion, the book stacks or vframes lare arranged side yby side in;rows,as` shown in Fig. 2, and

also if desired, two abreast in such rows asv shown in Fig-.'1.

VEach stack or frame `l. -in the nature ofa carriage and includes a rectangular frame formed of tubular end posts 2, a top con- .Y

necting barY 3, and angle bars l extending along and connected to opposite sides of the loivereiids of the posts2." V. i r

Suitable shelves fare secured to said frame in a manner to project from opposite'faces thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. A pair of rollers Vor Wheels 6 are disposed at the bottom of each frame, preferably between the opposite faces thereof', and rotatably attached tothe frame so as to serve as rolling supports and guides for the frame. The two wheels 6 at the lower end of each frame are arranged in tandem to roll about horizontal axes in the same direction and along the same path.

A rail 7 is disposed beneatheach frame or carriage and ycrosswise oi' Vthe row,-and the wheels or rollers 6ride upon or are guided bythe related rails 7.L Each rail 7 is ap v proximately Hush with the upper tace 8, ofy

the looi' of the'rooiin and its Iupper face'inay i y beprovided witli'a V-sliaped grooveY 9 run-"1v ning lengthwise of the rail. Each wheel or above each trame'k or carriage 1. The studs 11 roller 6 may have a peripheral vf-shaped flange 10 which runs in the groove k9, while the remaining periphery ot the wheel 0r roller 6 may roll upon the upper surface of a rail 7. The'lange 10 serves to'guide the roller alon'gfthe rail and coniine it thereto.

One or more studs 11 (Figs.v 24 and 6,)

'are provided upon each frame, so as to eX- tend upwardly into theiinterior `ot an in- Y verted channel strip or rail 12 which is parallel .to each lower vrail 7 and which'extends may. have their heads countersunk l Vinto L-shaped plates llawhicli are fitted over the upper vcorners. of each frame and secured theretovby'screws 112) (Figs. 4 and 6). The

lstuds also are provided with* shoulders 13 some distance below their upper ends, and

these shoulders may be formed by placing.

sleeves or bushings over theV studs. Each stud mounts a roller 14 which rests upon the shoulder 13.

` The rollers 14 may be removably .confined uponV the studs in' any suitable manner, such as by cotter pinslpassing through-thestuds above the rollersl 14. Each roller 14runs I along the interior'of the inverted channel .of

tliestrip 12 above that frame, orcarriage, and engagestheinner faces of the opposite sides or arms of the channelestrip, so as tolmaintainy the frame man upright position and assist in guiding it iny a. path crosswise of theV row. of carriages or frames.

Thus the book-staclisorframes 1 rbe. Q arranged closely to one another in the row,

and each frame or stack moved laterally and outwardly of the row toexpose its` opposite" j depending from the ceiling of the room, as

shown clearly -in-Fig. 1. Where the carriages orV stacks are arranged two abreast in a row,each channel strip 12 may have a. stop Y 18 secured therein for engagement by the i rear roller 14 of the -frames or carriages guided by that strip. These stops 18 determine the positions of the frame in the row andavoid collisions between the frameset eachv pair abreast when either frame of that pair is returned to its-positionxin the row.

Each lower rail 7 may also be formed of an inverted channelV strip having the groove 9 depressed' into the'up-p'er tace of the bottom or cross wall of the channel stri-p, as shown e clearly in Fig. 5, Aand the free ledges of the depending arms of the channel may be provided with lateral flanges 19 which rest upon suitable supports 20,-such as beams of thel `floor, andinay extend beneath the upper flooring strips V21. The depth of the channel strip` Jorming the rail 7 would then be approximately the thicknessv of tlielooring strips. 21, so that the `upper tace of the rail '7 will be approximatelyflush with or kon a level with the upper face of the ooring strips.

the frames` of each pair, to determine their position in the row and prevent collisions between the abreast members of each pair. The

frame posts 2 may be-forined otchannel strips 2a and 2b, whichare disposededgel to edge, with the channels opening towards vone another, as shown in lar post,

The. abutting edgesof the channel strips 2a and'2 maybe flanged laterally and outwardlya'sat 23to facilitate theirj connection to oneaiiother, and to provide means for thev attachment ofthe shelves 5. The lower ends 'of these postsfmayfbe reinforced by angle` inembersv24 Awhich may be welded to one-oi the-channelstrips', `such yas 2?). The angle members 24 are disposed between thecross angle bars or strips 410i the frame andthe sides of the tubularv posts 2, and ,bearing Fig. 7, to make a tubu If desired asuitable stop 22 may be pro; vided along each4 rail 7 below the stops 18,- -for engagement by resilient buffers 22a on pivots'25, which may bein the natureV ofl bol-ts, Ypass .through the` iside, Vangle fbars or strips 4, theangle members 24, the :sides of the channel strips 2?) and through the rollers or wheels 6. Thus' each bolt 25 serves, not onlytoclanip the various structural elements togetherfin forming the frame with a vwheel 6 forming a spacer, but also serves as pivot bearing for its.Y roller ory wheel 6. A

The rollers or wheels 6. preferablydodnot project outwardly Ybeyond the ends ofthe fram@ andthe bottom or cross walls ofthe* y channel stripsr2b may halve-notches 26, Fig,

5,'cut therein from the-,lowe'r'end to provide Vclearance for the wheels or' rollers 6.l `i/i handlev27 may be securedto the outer end post 2 of each carriage at a suitable height tofacilitate the pull-ing out or replacement of that. carriage.

s jl-tlwill b-e Aobserved thatsince the lower Vel@ rails 7 are approximately flush with the upper face of the licor, there will be nothing upon which one is likely to stumble or trip when Walking across the floor, and there will be no obstructions to the movement of portable carts through the aisles between rovvs, when books or articles are being carried to `and from stacks or vstorage places, as usual in libraries for example.

lfhe lower rails Will also notr offer any material obstruction to the sweeping or cleaning of the floors, andif any material quantity of dirt or similar foreign matter collect in any V-shaped groove 9, such dirt y or foreign matter Will be forced out of the groove by the Wedging action of the V -shaped flange l0, as the Wheels or rollers roll along the rail. rl`his prevents the packing of dirt or foreign matter in the grooves to the eX- x' tentthat the grooves would have no guiding effect upon the flanges l0. The rollers 6 will be largely supported upon the fiat upper faces of the rails 7 and confined theretoand guided therealong by the engagement of the flanges l0 with the grooves ,By placing the lovver rollers or rvWheels G approximately centrally between Vopposite side faces of the frame, the roll-ers or Wheels may be made relatively large in diameter and therefore they Will roll easily and freely, and

but a minimum of eflort will be required to move the frames or stacks l into or outof their positions in a row. l,

' The guides at the tops of the stacks maintain the stacks or frames inV upright positions, yas they travel fito and out of position inthe roiv, and enable the use of a minimum number of rollers beneath each carriage.

By supporting the stacks or Vframes atrboth top and bottom they do not become top heavy andunstable when made of considerable height, and the stacks may therefore entend racticallv to the ceilinoof the room.

' lt will be obvious that v various changes in n Vthe details which have been herein described rin the art Within the principle and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

Claimsz- Y l. En a storage system for articles such as books and the like, a room 'having parallel trackways along the ceiling and floor, a plurality of carriages arranged side by side closeto one another in rovs running cross-vise of the tracks, and each mounted on afloor track, and guided by a vceiling' track, lwhereby any carriage'maybe pulled laterally'from its row to make both side faces easily accessible for storage or removal of articles. 2, ln storage system for articles'such as boo1 and the like, a plurality of carriages igedside by side in'fa row, each carriage should having a central vertical frame with rollers .at the bottom thereof, in approximately the same plane With one another, and rolling in a direction laterally of the roiv, means engageable with' the upper edge of'thegframe for guiding it laterallyinto and out of said rojv and keeping it upright in all positions, Whereby .any carriage in a rovv'may be pulled laterally out of the row to make both' of ,its side faces easily accessible. Y

3. ln a storage system for articles such as books vand the like, a plurality of carriages arranged side-by side in a row, each carriage having rollers at the bottom thereof arranged in a row transversely of the first mentioned row and approximately centrally between the rtWo sides of the carriage, rforsupporting the carriage yand guiding it laterally into and out of that row, and a guide rail 'arranged above each carriage andfextending crossivise of said rovv for maintaining the carriagesfin upright positions' during their movements, 'whereby any carriage in said' row may be'pulled out of that roiv te make both of its side faces easily accessible. n'

4. ln a storage system for articles,-such as books and the like, a plurality ofcarriages arranged side by side in a; row, a rail y above and below each carriage and entend`- ing crossivise of said row, Wheels provided upon thelovv'er portion of eachfcarriage and engaging with the rail belovv that carriage for supporting the carriage and guiding it laterallyinto and out ofa position in the row, and means provided upon the upper part of each carriage and cooperating With the upper rail for maintaining the carriage in an upright position as it 'moves into and Y outofsaidrovv.V .Y Y

5. A storage system Vfor articles such as books and the likeand of the type having a plurality of carriages arrangedl side byy side in a row, Which comprises Va. carriage, arailfabove and below each carriagerand running crossvvisev of'saidroW, a plurality of rollersprovided A atv the r lovver `end kof said carriage and running on thelovver'rail tor guide the carriage laterally into andV out 1 of said floor beneath each carriage and runningy 'f' crosswise of the row, each rail having a. V`

shaped groove' in itsY upper surface, anda roller attached to each carriage and runningv on the rail V.beneath that carriage, With a V- 'f lshaped peripheral portionentering `said V- shaped groove to guide the roller lalong theV 7. In a storage system for articles such as books and the like, a room having a ilcor, a plurality of Ycarriages arranged side by side in a .row in said room, afrail on saidV 'floor beneath each carriage and `running Vcrosswifs'e,`

of said row, the upper face-of each rail'being approximately flush with theupper face of the floor and having an approximately V- shaped groove invits upper face, roller means carried by veach carriage and ruiming upon said rail to supportsaid carriage and guide it laterally into and out of said row, each roller means rolling upon its rail with a peripheral V-shaped portion thereof running in said grooveto guide the carriage along theVV rail.

8. il storage 'systemA for articles such as books and the like,1acarriage comprising a rectangular frame with shelves projecting from opposite faces thereof, a wheel rotatably attached to the lower portion of said their lower ends and engaging with 4,the lov7 er rails, and rollers carried by the upper endsof said carriages and engaging wlththe upper rails 'to keep the carriages upright and toguide them laterally into and out of saidv row. j

10. In a storage vsystem for articles, such as books and the like, a plurality of carriages Y arranged side byr'side in a: row, each carriage having va vertical lfr`ame,^a rail abovegan'd below each carriage and running crosswiseiof said row, said carriages having yrollers at their lower ends and engaging with the,V lower V'rails,rand rollers carried bythe upper ends of said carriagespand engaging with the upper rails to keep the carriages upright and to guide them laterallyinto and out-of said row, said lower rails having V-shap'ed' grooves in their upper faces, and the lower wheels having V-shaped `peripheral .pQrtiOnsrunning in said grooves to guide the lower portions .of said carriage ina definite path. Y Y

l1. Ina storage system for' articles, such as books and the like, aplurality of carriages arrangedsideby side in a'row, each'carria ge having fa' vertical frame, ja railabove Yand below each carriageand 4running crosswiseof ,saidf row, said carriages havingfrollers at their lower endsfandlengaging wlththeflower Y @essere rails, and rollers carried by theupper ends of saidcarriages and engagingwiththe upper rails to keep thecarriagesupright and to guide them laterally into and out of said roW,

said upper rails comprising inverted lchan-nel strips, and the rollers .on the upperends of thecarriages running inthe inverted channels and engaging withtheinnerface thereof.

12. In a storage system for articles such as booksand the like, a storageframe, a channel strip disposed beneath saidvframein an inverted position and having a Vfshaped groove in the upper face thereof, the lower edges of the channel arms beingflanged to provide anchorage means for securing the channel strips in position, and roller means provided onsaid carriage and,4 running on said upper face and guided in a prescribed pathbysaid V-shaped groove. K Y p 13. In .a storage system forarticlessuch as books and the like, a carriage, a rail extending lbeneath the carriage `rand having `a -V shaped groove in` its upper face, roller-'means carried bythe lower portion of ithe carriage and having a peripheral il-.shaped portion Vrunning in said'groove to guidesaid carriage inaprescribedi. path. p f

let. .In a stoiagesystem vfor articles such-as books'and the like, a carriage frame, a rail extending lbeneath the carriage and having a V-shaped groove alongthe upper facerof the same, a roller `attached to saidk carriage running upon the upper, faceof said rail, with alf-shaped peripheral flange running in said groove to contine'the rollerto the rail.y

l5. In a storage system for articles, such as books rand the like, a plurality of carriages arrangedside by side Vin `aQrow by pairs, rails extending crosswise `offsaid row above and below each pair, rolling means attached to said carriage and engageable withthe upper and lowerrails forguiding each carriage laterally of the vrowv into and out of a, position in the row, and a stropA- carried by one of the rails .for each pair of carriages in a position to be engaged bythe carriages running on that rail for defining the positions of the care riages in the row and preventing the pushing ofrone carriage out of a position in the .row whenv theother carriage inthat pair 1s pushed into position.

16. In a 'storage system for articles suchas booksv andthe like, a room having a 'floora plurality of carriages Yarranged iside by side in a row, a plurality of rails each extending one beneath each carriage and running crosswise of said row, eachrail being substantially flush with the upper surfaceA of said floor, and

a 'flanged wheel attached toeachcarriage and running on said rail so as .tok guide the lcarriage into and'out of position in said` row.

17. In a storage system forcarticles', such as books'or the like, a carriage comprising a vertical frame having article supports extending from :opposite faces thereof, a supporting and guiding roller attached to the lower part of the frame and disposed between the faces of saidframe, and means engageab-le with the K upper edge of Vsaid frame Jfor also guiding said frame in a prescribed path, and keeping it upright in all positions.

18. In a storage system for articles, a frame comprising spaced vertical tubularposts, bars extending along opposite sides of the lower ends of said posts and secured thereto, a roller disposed within each post at the lower end thereof and between said bars, and bearing means for each roller passing through the adjacent post and bars. Y

19. In a. storage system for articles, a oar- 'riage frame, a rail beneath said frame, roller means running on said rail and supporting and guiding said carriage along the rail, a stud projecting upwardly from said frame and having a shoulder, a roller rotatably Y mounted on said stud above the shoulder and an inverted vchannel strip running parallel to said rail but above said carriage, with its Varms depending on opposite sides of said roller, whereby said channel strip and roller will maintain said frame in an upright position during its movement along said rail.

JOHN G. L. SKAR. HAROLD J. SYREN. 

